Shaving-soap receptacle.



0. E. PAGAN. SHAVING SOAP REGBP'IAGLE. APPLICATION FILED MAY 19, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

live 01' Qlurerffiyczm t i i a 2 TQE- SHAVING-SOAP RECEPTACLE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OLIVER E. PAGAN, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Washington, District of Columbia, United States ofAmerica, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inShaving-Soap Receptacles; and I do hereby declare that the following isa full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being bad to theaccompanying drawings, and to the numerals of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to a novel article in the nature of a holder orreceptacle for shaving soap adapted to hold a cake of such soap in amanner convenient for making lather by the use of a shaving brush, forthe protection of the soap when not in use and its preservation in acleanly and sanitary condition.

A shaving soap receptacle made in accordance with my invention differsin form from what is ordinarily known as a shaving mug by being madeonly slightly deeper than the cake of soap to be placed therein, andconsiderably larger in diameter than the same, and is provided on thecentral part of its bottom with spikes or studs adapted to hold the cakeof soap centrally in the receptacle and above the bottom of the same, soas to afford an open space beneath the cake of soap, in which surpluswater may accumulate, and in which air may circulate for drying the soapbetween shaves, and to also afford an open space around the sides of thesoap to facilitate the drying of the same and which permits the shavingbrush to act on the sides, as well as the top, of the cake in makinglather.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter described and pointedout in the appended claim.

In. the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention: Figure l is aview in central vertical section of a shaving soap receptacle embodyingmy invention, made of sheet metal and provided with a hinged lid orcover. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the body of the receptacle, with thehinged connection between the cover and the body in section, taken uponline 22 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a form of receptaclehaving a detachable cover, and which is made of porcelain or the like.Fig. 4 is a detail view of a portion of the bottom of a sheet-metalreceptacle, which is like that shown in Figs. 1

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 19, 1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

Serial No. 496,901.

and 2, with the exception of the means for forming the holding studs orprongs and the supporting shoulders on the bottom of the receptacle.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the body of the receptacle is made ofsheet-metal and has the form of a flat or shallow, circular dish whichis much larger in diameter than the cake of soap to be inserted therein,and only slightly deeper than the thickness of such cake of soap. Thebottom wall 1 of the receptacle is flat while its side wall 2 extends ona curved line from the said bot tom wall to its upper edge. 8 indicatesa cake of soap within the receptacle, the same having the usual form ofa fiat circular disk. The fiat bottom wall 1 of the receptacle is ofabout the same diameter as the cake of soap, while the top edge ormargin of the side wall 2 is much larger in diameter than the cake ofsoap, leaving an annular space of considerable width around the cake ofsoap. Secured to and rising from the said bottom wall of the receptacle,at the central part of the receptacle, are a plurality of uprightholding prongs or spikes l, 4, 4, of upwardly tapered form, which serveto hold the cake centrally in the receptacle and prevent it from turningin applying the shaving brush thereto. The receptacle is provided at thebases of the spikes with upwardly facing supporting shoulders, formed bymeans of annular flanges 5, 5, 5 on said spikes. Said shoulders formsupporting surfaces on which the bottom surface of the cake rest-s whenit is impaled on the said spikes, and which serve to support the cake ata distance above the said bottom wall of the receptacle, leaving an openspace beneath the cake in which surplus water may accumulate, and whichfacilitates the drying of the soap between shaves. The cake of soapbeing held centrally in the receptacle by said spikes, and the rim ofthe receptacle being much larger in diameter than the part of the bottomwall which is provided with the holding spikes, and over which the cakeis supported, an air-space is provided both beneath and around the cake,permitting the same to dry and keeping it in good condition. The lowside wall of the receptacle in connection with the open space around thecake of soap, enables the shaving brush, when rubbed against the cakewith a circular motion for making lather, to act on the sides as well asupon or over the entire top surface of the cake, so that a greater partof the cake will be used than when the brush is applied to the centralpart of the top of the cake only, as in the case of an ordinary mug. Asshown in said Figs. 1

and 2, the flanges 5, 5, 5 are formed in or.

made integral with the spikes, and the latter are secured in the bottomwall 1 by means of integral studs 6 which are inserted through holes inthe said bottom wall and are upset or riveted against the under surfaceof the bottom wall so as to firmly secure the studs to the bottom walland make tight joints between the wall and the flanges 5, 5, 5.

In Fig. 4 is shown a somewhat different form of construction in asupporting shoulder and spike, adapted for use in connection with asheet-metal receptacle. In this instance the bottom wall 1 is shaped toform an elevated flat portion 9, and a spike 10 of upwardly tapered formis secured to said elevated part 9, which latter forms an upwardlyfacing shoulder surrounding the base of the stud. The stud in thisinstance is provided at its lower end with a projecting part 11 that isinserted through a hole in the elevated part 9 of the bottom wall, andis secured therein by a mass of solder 12, or by other securing meansafiording a tight joint between the stud and the bottom wall.

The sheet-metal disk or receptacle shown in Figs. 1 and 2 is providedwith a hinged cover or lid 15 connected with one side of the receptacleat its upper margin by means of a hinge 16. The part of the hingeattached to the lid is provided with a downwardly extending prong 17,adapted for contact with the outer surface of the rim of the receptaclebelow the hinge when the lid is open, so as to support said lid in anupwardly and outwardly inclined position, as shown in Fig. l. The lid ispreferably made of convex form so as to provide ample space for the cakeof soap in a receptacle the body of which is of minimum depth. Said lid15 is provided on its inner face with a mirror 18, preferably of concaveform and consisting of a piece or disk of glass secured on its innersurface and held in place on the lid by means. of an annular rim 19 onthe same engaging the margins of the mirror.

By reason of the rim of the receptacle being large in diameter, the lid15 may be made of suflicient size to support a mirror large enough indiameter to be of practical utility. It will be manifest that the lidprovided with a mirror could not be used on a shaving mug of ordinaryconstruction, or of the usual diameter, because in such case the mirrorwould be too small to be of any benefit for actual use for shavingpurposes. It will, of course, be understood that the receptacle whenmade shallow and of large diameter aifords a suitable base or supportfor the mirror and serves to sustain the latter in position forconvenient use in shaving. V

Fig. 3 shows a receptacle for shaving soap embodying the same generalfeatures of construction above described, but in which the body of thereceptacle is made of porcelain or the like. In this instance, thereceptacle has a flat bottom wall 20 and a curved annular side wall 21,the bottom wall being provided with an annular base flange 22., Theholding spikes 23 employed in this instance are like those illustratedin Fig. 1, said spikes having each an annular, integral flange 24, thetop surface of which forms an upwardly facing shoulder or supportingsurface for contact with the bottom surface of the cake of soap. In thisinstance each spike 23 is provided with a downwardly extending stem 25which extends through a hole in the bottom of the receptacle,-and thelower end of which is screw-threaded and provided with a clamping nut26. A rubber ring or gasket 27 is applied between the base of the flange24 and the bot-tom of the receptacle to make a water tight jointbet-ween the parts. The receptacle shown in said Fig. 3 is provided witha lid or cover 28 which is provided ing in the central part of itsbottom wall holding spikes and upwardly facing, supporting shoulders bywhich a cake of soap may be held centrally within the receptacle,- andabove said bottom wall; said receptacle being of large diameter inproportion to its depth, with its sidewall at such distance outside ofthe central part of the bottom wall, containing said spikes, as toaflord' an annular space around the cake of soap. A shaving soapreceptacle embracing these features possesses several advantages ascompared with shaving mugs, as heretofore made, which will be understoodfrom the following: In order to satisfactorily produce lather forshaving purposes, it is necessary that the cake of soap should be heldstationary while the brush should be used in connection with a limitedsupply of water and applied to the cake with a circular or stirringmotion; friction between the soap and brush and a limited quantity ofwater being essential to the production of a good lather. Moreover, whenshaving soap is used by a man who shaves himself and the soap standsidle between shaves, it is important that the soap should quickly dryand remain dry, because if it's stands in contact with. water in thebottom of the receptacle the soap is made soft and lifeless and fails toproduce a. good lather. In a receptacle made as described, the cake ofsoap is held by the spikes above the bottom wall of the receptacle, sothat it will be above and free from contact with any water in thebot-tom of the receptacle, while at the same time spaces for thecirculation of air are afforded beneath and around the cake so that thesoap quickly dries and is kept in the best possible condition for use.In the use of a deep receptacle, such as a shaving mug, the brush canonly be applied to the top surface of the cake, with any degree ofeffectiveness, and as a result the central part of the cake is firstremoved, leaving a ring which, when dry, becomes broken up and must bethrown away. Inasmuch as the top edge of the side wall of applicantsreceptacle is only slightly above the level of the top of the cake, thebrush may act on the entire top surface of the cake, and also to adesired extent on its sides, it being manifest that the brush may beinserted in said annular space in an outwardly inclined position so asto bring the ends of the bristles thereof against the marginal part ofthe top and the sides of the cake, so that as much soap may be removedfrom the margin as from the center of the cake, when making the lather.In the use of applicants receptacle, therefore, soap is taken from theentire top surface of the cake, and to some extent around its sides, sothat the cake will remain impaled on the spikes until little of itremains with the result that a considerable saving in the soap issecured. In a receptacle made as described, it follows that the cake ofsoap will last much longer, both because it is kept dry and because moreof it is used, than in the use of the mugs heretofore employed.Moreover, surplus water flowing from the brush may accumulate in thebottom of the receptacle beneath the soap, without contact with thelatter, thereby saving the trouble of pouring off such surplus waterwhile shaving; the water in the bottom of the receptacle being availablefor wetting the brush when necessary. By reason of the presence of theannular space surrounding the cake the brush may easily reach the bottomof the said space, to take up water introduced into the receptacle andremaining in the bottom of the same, as said brush is carried around thecake, with the result that exactly the desired or proper quantity ofwater may be used in making the lather. By the construction described,moreover, the cake of soap may be easily removed from the spikes, whennecessary for cleaning the receptacle, by inserting the fingers in theannular space outside of the cake and grasping the sides of the cakewith the fingers. Moreover, in cleaning the receptacle after shaving,water may be caused to fiow through the spaces around and beneath thecake, so as to wash out the remaining lather and effectively clean thesoap and receptacle; this being important from a sanitary point of view,especially in a barber shop where the soap and receptacle should oftenbe cleaned. The cleansing of the receptacle and the cake of soap may bemost easily performed by permitting water from a faucet to flow into thereceptacle, around and beneath the cake. Important advantages areobtained from a receptacle made as described, from a sanitarystandpoint; it being manifest that, because of the facility with whichthe soap and receptacle may be thoroughly cleaned after use, theaccumulation of deleterious matters in the receptacle may be easilyavoided.

As compared with the ordinary shaving mug, the depth of which is two orthree times the thickness of the cake of soap placed therein, and whichis very much larger and heavier than required for its intended purpose,a receptacle made as clescribed is a great convenience for the use oftravelers, because it is light in weight, occupies little space and maybe easily packed in a traveling bag or the like.

The presence of a lid or cover is of special advantage when thereceptacle is used by travelers, the receptacle when provided with acover being more like an ordinary receptacle for toilet soap than ashaving mug. Moreover, by reason of the relatively large diameter of thereceptacle, the said lid may be made from two and a half to three inchesin diameter and may therefore be provided with a mirror large enough forpractical use in shaving. The provision of a mirror in the lid is ofspecial advantage for use when traveling or in places where a mirror isnot avail able, and also in cases in which it is desirable that themirror should be placed in certain positions to receive suitable light.

I claim as my invention The combination with a cup-shaped receptacle; ofa plurality of spaced lugs rising a considerable distance above theinner surface of the bottom of the receptacle, each lug being providedwith a broad fiat upper bearing face, and spurs rising centrally fromthe upper bearing faces of said lugs whereby a cake of soap will bemaintained fixed in superposed position on the lugs at a considerableelevation above the plane of the bottom of the receptacle for freecirculation of air beneath said soap cake.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix mysignature in the presence of two witnesses, this 17th day of May A. D.1909.

OLIVER E. PAGAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE R. WILKINS, G. J. BRYCE.

